Ergonomic beverage discharge disposition, beverage preparation machine with said beverage discharge disposition and process of operation of said machine

ABSTRACT

The present invention discloses a beverage discharge disposition comprising a discharge casing (1) configured so that can be provided in the front region of a beverage preparation machine (20), including the option of supplying milk and frothed milk, whereby said discharge casing (1) presents a milk circulation disposition (2) adapted so as to provide an ergonomic use of a beverage preparation machine, in particular the possibility of dismounting and mounting said milk circulation disposition (2) for periodic cleaning thereof.The present invention further discloses a beverage preparation machine (20) and a process for operating said machine (20), in particular of a respective ergonomic beverage discharge disposition, according to the present invention.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention refers to the field of the beverage dischargedispositions associated with beverage preparation machines andpresenting discharge means for a first type of beverage, includingcoffee, and a second type of beverage, including a milk-based beverage.

The present invention further refers to a beverage preparation machine,in particular adapted so that can prepare a first type of beverage, forexample coffee, based upon a portion of edible substance supplied to abrewing device, and a second type of milk-based beverage, as well asfurther refers to a process of operation of a machine for preparingbeverages according to the present invention.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The prior art presents several solutions of beverage preparationmachines with a first beverage discharge, for example espresso typecoffee, and a second beverage discharge, for example milk, whereby saidsecond beverage discharge is provided from a connection to an exteriorrecipient, in particular to an exterior milk recipient and adapted sothat a flow is sucked from said exterior recipient by means of apressurized flow flowing through said first discharge.

Document EP 1746920 B1 discloses a beverage preparation system of thetype of the present invention, comprising a beverage preparation machineand a milk supply recipient, whereby the machine presents a dischargedisposition comprising a first vapour discharge line and a second milkdischarge line, whereby said second line is provided in connection withsaid milk supply recipient.

Documents EP 1785074 B1 and EP 2275010 B1 disclose dischargedispositions of the same type and comprising electronic means for flowregulation by means of a machine control unit.

Documents EP 0813834 B1 discloses a discharge disposition comprisingmechanical means of flow regulation. Said mechanic means present severaladvantages in terms of simplicity and reliability.

Document EP 2189085 B1 discloses a frothing unit that can be removed asa unit, so that can be cleaned separately.

Document WO 2013/128323 A1 discloses a beverage preparation machine thatpresents a discharge disposition of the type of the present invention.

Document U.S. Pat. No. 5,738,002 disclose a self-cleaning attachment forespresso coffee machine, for combining vapour, milk and air so as toproduce hot frothed milk, whereby said attachment can be cleaned withoutbeing dismounted or disconnected from the espresso coffee machine, bymeans of reversal of the flow flux through the milk and air supplymeans.

Document US 2010/0199851 A1 discloses a milk carrying device, with amilk frothing disposition including a vapour supply, a cold milk supplyand an ambient air supply similar to the present invention.

Document WO 2012/117399 A1 discloses a beverage preparation machine ofthe type of the present invention that comprises a beverage dischargethat comprises an upstream mixture chamber and flow path, at least threebeverage supply lines at at least three previously defined temperaturesinto said chamber, and a controller for controlling the supply by eachof said supply lines.

Document WO 2015/102126 discloses a device for producing a milk-basedbeverage, and associated with a beverage preparation machine thatpresents a removable flow connection with an exterior milk supplyrecipient.

Document US 2013/0019903 A1 discloses a beverage preparation machine ofthe type of the present invention that presents a flow regulation buttonof the frothed milk discharge flow that provides a continuous regulationof said flow by means of rotation around a central axis of said button.

The simple and compact construction of the milk frothing means, theregulation of milk discharge flow, as well as the cleaning of thoseparts that contact with milk, are important problems in this type ofbeverage discharge disposition.

General Description of the Invention

The objective of the present invention is to provide a beveragedischarge disposition provided as front part of a beverage preparationmachine and comprising means adapted for discharge of a first type ofbeverage, in particular of aromatic beverages such as for exampleespresso type coffee, and means adapted for frothing of a liquid foodproduct, in particular milk, said disposition presenting a simpler, morecompact construction, in particular so that can be easily mounted anddismounted by a user, so that can be effortlessly periodically cleanedby a user, as well as simpler and more ergonomic flow regulation means.

This objective is attained according to the present invention by meansof a beverage discharge disposition according to claim 1.

Said beverage discharge disposition comprises a discharge casing thatpresents an attached part and a milk circulation disposition provided asa part that can be attached in removable manner to said attached part.

In particular, there is provided a construction of discharge casing thatcomprises an attached part and a removable part that corresponds to amilk circulation disposition comprising all the means of said machinedirectly exposed to the passage of milk, adapted so that can be attachedin removable manner to said attached part, whereby said removable partincludes a preferentially pressure-fitting type connection to a vapoursupply provided on said attached part, is disposed on a lateral regionand presents a volume that is smaller than half of the volume defined bysaid discharge casing, thereby facilitating a periodic removal forcleaning.

The beverage discharge disposition according to the present inventioncomprises a discharge casing that provided discharge of a first andsecond type of beverages, and means associated with frothing of milkincluding a vapour supply, generated by means upstream inside of themachine, a cold milk supply, supplied from an exterior supply recipient,and ambient air supply, whereby said means provide an interactionbetween said flows and are provided on said discharge casing on a sideregion and with a volume that is smaller than the volume of saiddischarge casing.

A related objective of the present invention is to provide a beveragepreparation machine, in particular of aromatic beverages such as forexample espresso type coffee, comprising a brewing device adapted forcollecting a portion of edible substance, optionally provided inside ofa capsule, and a beverage discharge regulation disposition adapted so asto provide a simpler, more compact and ergonomic construction.

This objective is attained by means of a machine according to claim 13.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide a process forpreparing beverages that provides better ergonomic use conditions.

This objective is solved according to claim 14.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The invention shall hereinafter be explained in greater detail basedupon preferred embodiments and in the attached Figures.

The Figures show, in simplified schematic representations:

FIG. 1: perspective view of a beverage preparation machine presenting apreferred embodiment of beverage discharge disposition according to thepresent invention;

FIG. 2: detail view of preferred embodiment of the beverage dischargedisposition according to FIG. 1;

FIG. 3: exploded perspective view of the preferred embodiment of thebeverage discharge disposition according to FIG. 1;

FIG. 4: exploded perspective view of the preferred embodiment of thebeverage discharge disposition according to FIG. 1;

FIG. 5: cut front view of the preferred embodiment of the beveragedischarge disposition according to FIG. 1;

FIG. 6: exploded perspective view of the air valve in the preferredembodiment of the beverage discharge disposition according to FIG. 1.

FIG. 1 represents a machine (20) for preparing beverages, includingaromatic beverages, from an edible substance, such as for exampleespresso coffee, tea and similar, as well as a liquid food product thatcan be frothed, in particular milk.

The machine (20) is adapted for flow connection from a respectivebeverage discharge connection, said disposition including a dischargecasing (1) that corresponds to the piece provided on the front region ofsaid machine (20), and that provides discharge of at least two types ofbeverages into a recipient underneath thereof.

Said discharge casing (1) presents selection means (5) of beverage typeon a front region above of said beverage discharge, and presents flowconnection means provided so that can be removed, with a milk recipient(6) disposed outside of said machine (20).

Moreover, in particular, said machine (20) presents a preferredembodiment of a beverage discharge disposition according to the presentinvention, that comprises a discharge casing (1) of beverage dischargeconfigured so that can be provided in the front region of said beveragepreparation machine (20) and that provides a more ergonomic use, both interms of selection of type of milk flow, as in terms of easy mountingand dismounting of the parts in contact with milk for periodic cleaningthereof, as shall be described in greater detail hereinafter.

As represented in FIG. 2, according to an inventive aspect, saiddischarge casing (1) comprises a milk circulation disposition (2) thatpresents selection means (3) of milk flux.

In particular, according to an inventive aspect, said selection means(3) of milk flux and said selection means (5) of beverage type areprovided in different regions and planes of said discharge casing (1),whereby said selection means (3) of milk flux are preferentiallyprovided on a lateral region of said discharge casing (1), and saidselection means (5) of beverage type are provided on a front region ofsaid discharge casing (1).

Moreover, it is preferred when said selection means (3) of milk flux aredisposed on a region of said milk circulation disposition (2) next toand above of flow connection means, for example in a tube form, of saidmilk circulation disposition (2) to said milk supply recipient (6).

It is herewith advantageously provided a compact and ergonomicdisposition of the main components associated with the regulation by theuser of the type of milk flow and the milk supply from an exteriorrecipient.

It is further preferred that said selection means (3) of milk flux areadapted so that said milk flux selection means (3) are provided so thatcan be manually actuated between successive positions along an actuationplane that is at least approximately orthogonal relative to the frontplane of said discharge casing (1).

It is preferred when said milk flux selection means (3) are adapted sothat provide a regulation of air flow, in particular by means of saidair valve disposition (10), in the interior of said milk circulationdisposition (2) and therewith of the type of milk flow dischargeddownstream.

Advantageously in terms of usage, said selection means (3) of milk fluxare provided so that can be moved along a previously defined path,preferentially around a respective rotation axis, between a plurality ofat least two and up to five, preferentially up to three previouslydefined positions, thereby providing a corresponding variation of thetype of discharge flow of said liquid food product to be frothed,whereby at least one position corresponds to a substantially continuousmilk flow type and a second position corresponds to a substantiallyfrothed milk flow type.

It is preferred when said milk flux selection means (3) are configuredas a rotation button-like element, with side surfaces adapted forplacing two opposing fingers so as to drive a rotation thereof.

It is further preferred when said milk flux selection means (3) areprovided so that can be moved frontwards and backwards along said path,preferentially along at least one of:

-   -   a linear extension, whereby said extension presents a dimension        comprised between 1 and 4 cm, preferentially between 2 and 3 cm;    -   an angular extension, whereby said angular extension corresponds        to an angle bigger than 5° and smaller than 120°, preferentially        bigger than 10° and smaller than 90°.

It is further preferred when there are provided graphic and/or acousticsignals associated with each one of said previously defined positions ofsaid milk flux selection means (3), so that the user can recognize withtype of flux is selected at each any given moment.

As further represented in FIG. 2, according to another preferredembodiment, said milk flux selection means (3) are provided on a lateralface of said discharge casing (1), whereas said beverage type selectionmeans (5) are provided on a front face of said discharge casing (1).

As one can better observe in FIG. 3, said discharge casing (1) presentsa milk circulation disposition (2) that comprises milk flux selectionmeans (3), a milk entry connection (4) adapted so that providesconnection to said milk recipient (6), and a vapour entry connection (7)adapted for flow connection to water vapour supply means, beverage typeselection means (5) provided on a different region from said milkcirculation disposition (2) and presenting at least one option relativeto the use of said liquid food product to be frothed, in particular,milk.

According to an inventive aspect, said discharge casing (1) presents afirst part provided attached to the casing of said beverage preparationmachine (20), and said milk circulation disposition (2) is provided sothat can be manually mounted and dismounted on said attached part ofdischarge casing (1), thereby providing a removable attachment of allcomponents that are in direct contact with milk to the remandingdischarge casing (1), and removable flow connection of said vapour exitnozzle (13) with said second beverage discharge (12).

As shall be promptly understood, it is herewith advantageously providedthe possibility of the user to remove all components that are exposed indirect contact with milk, provided in a particularly compact form, as asingle joint arrangement, manually removable from the remandingdischarge casing, so that enables its periodic cleaning in simple andrapid manner, as well as its placement in expedite and reliable manner.

According to a preferred embodiment, said milk circulation disposition(2) presents a plurality of components placed and removed as a singleelement, preferentially by means of pressured-fitting, in said attachedpart of discharge casing (1).

Moreover, it is preferred when said milk circulation disposition (2) isgenerally provided with a shape and dimension corresponding to a partthat is similar or smaller than half the form and general dimension ofsaid discharge casing (1) and that can be fitted on a lateral region ofsaid attached part of the discharge casing (1).

It is preferred when said milk circulation disposition (2) is adapted sothat can be placed onto, and removed from, a lateral portion of saidattached part of discharge casing (1), by means of displacement intransversal manner relative thereto, preferentially by guiding means (8)provided in opposite regions, for example in lateral regions, anddeveloping along at least part of the extension of said opposing regionsof said milk circulation disposition (2), thereby providingestablishing, and removal, of flow connection of said vapour entryconnection (7) with said vapour exit nozzle (13) provided on saidattached part of discharge casing (1).

It is herewith provided the possibility of an easy disassembling andassembling of the milk circulation disposition (2) for the purpose ofcleaning, as a single piece. In particular, said milk circulationdisposition (2) is adapted so that can be placed for cleaning in aconvention dish washing machine.

It is preferred when said vapour exit nozzle (13) is adapted forpressurized-fitting with a vapour entry connection (7) associated withthe flow distribution disposition (11).

It is further preferred when said connection to the milk supplyrecipient (6) includes a milk entry connection (4) adapted forpressurized-fitting between a connection part of milk supply recipient(6) and a connection part of said discharge casing (1).

Moreover, it is preferred when said milk entry connection (4) isprovided in flow connection with said milk supply recipient (6) by meansof a connection that includes at least one location with possibility ofrotation in several planes, preferentially including a sphericalkneecap-like point, preferentially including a flexible tube (16)provided for sucking milk from said milk supply recipient (6).

According to a preferred embodiment, represented in FIG. 4, said milkcirculation disposition (2) presents a first part (9 a) adapted so as toprovide support to said milk flux selection means (3) and to said milkentry connection (4), and preferentially configured so as to provide anexterior surface that develops in coherent manner in relation to theremanding exterior surface of said discharge casing (1) when said milkcirculation disposition (2) is placed in said discharge casing (1), andfurther presents a second part (9 b) adapted so as to provide support tosaid vapour entry connection (7), whereby said first and secondstructural parts (9 a, 9 b) are configured as elements that can bemanually pressure-fitted with each other.

It is further preferred when said first and second structural parts (9a, 9 b) are adapted so that support an air valve disposition (10), aflow distribution disposition (11) and a milk discharge (12), along ageneral upstream to downstream direction.

In particular, it is preferred when said milk circulation disposition(2) comprises a flow distribution disposition (11) adapted so thatpresents said milk entry connection (4) and said vapour entry connection(7), and that provides flow connection, preferentially by means ofpressure fitting, with said air valve disposition (10), and with saidsecond beverage discharge (12), whereby said flow distributiondisposition (11) is preferentially retained in exterior walls of saidfirst and second structural parts (9 a, 9 b).

FIG. 5 shows an exploded perspective representation of the severalcomponents comprised in said milk circulation disposition (2).

According to an inventive aspect, said discharge casing (1) comprises afirst fluid discharge line adapted for discharging a first type ofbeverage and provided in flow connection with an upstream pressurizedfluid source, such as for example a pressure pump, and downstream with afirst beverage discharge (15) and a second fluid discharge line. Saidsecond fluid discharge line that comprises:

-   -   a first fluid supply adapted for supplying vapour and provided        in flow connection upstream with said pressurized fluid source        and downstream with a vapour exit nozzle (13),    -   a second fluid supply adapted for supplying air and that        provides flow connection upstream with an air admission (14)        associated with selection means (3) of milk flux that provide        regulation of the air flow through an air valve disposition        (10), and downstream with a flow distribution disposition (11),    -   a third fluid supply adapted for supplying milk and that        provides flow connection upstream with a milk supply recipient        (6) provided outside of said beverage preparation machine, and        downstream with said flow distribution disposition (11).

According to a preferred embodiment, said first, second and third fluidsupplies, are provided in flow connection downstream, by means of saidflow distribution disposition (11), with a second beverage discharge(12).

It is further preferred when said second and third fluid supplies andrespective second fluid discharge (12) are provided so that can be flowconnected by means of removable pressure-fitting connection of said flowdistribution disposition (11) with said vapour entry connection (7), sothat said second and third fluid supplies, flow distribution disposition(11) and second beverage discharge (12) can be jointly removed fromconnection with said first fluid supply.

FIG. 6 represents a detail of said air valve (10). As represented, it ispreferred when said air valve disposition (10) comprises a regulationdisk (17) of air flux that is provided in a metal, preferentially in afood grade metal alloy.

Lisbon, Sep. 12, 2017

1. A beverage discharge disposition adapted for frothing a liquid foodproduct, in particular milk, comprising: a discharge casing (1) providedin a front region of a beverage preparation machine (20), wherein saiddischarge casing (1) comprises: an attached part associated to thecasing of said beverage preparation machine (20) and that presentsselection means (5) of beverage type, including a milk option, and afirst beverage discharge (15) for discharge of a first beverage type,such as for example coffee; and a part that is removable from thedischarge casing (1) and corresponds to a milk circulation disposition(2) providing removable flow connection to an exterior supply recipient(6) to said machine (20), and comprising all components exposed to themilk circulation in said machine (20) including a second beveragedischarge (12), whereby said milk circulation disposition (2) can bemanually attached in a removable manner to said attached part of thedischarge casing (1), so that said second beverage discharge (12) isarranged next to said first beverage discharge (15) inside of saiddischarge casing (1).
 2. The beverage disposition according to claim 1,characterized in that said milk circulation disposition (2) comprises:selection means (3) of milk flux that provide regulation of the air flowthrough an air valve disposition (10), a milk entry connection (4)adapted so that provides connection to a milk supply recipient (6)provided outside of said beverage preparation machine (20), a vapourentry connection (7) adapted so that provides connection to a vapoursupply provided upstream of said discharge casing (1), preferentially bymeans of a vapour exit nozzle (13) provided on said attached part ofdischarge casing (1), and a second beverage discharge (12) for dischargeof the liquid food product to be frothed, provided so that can bejointly attached in removable manner as single element, preferentiallyby means of pressure-fitting, in said attached part of discharge box(1), so that it is thereby provided a removable flow connection of saidvapour exit nozzle (13) with said second beverage discharge (12), and inthat said milk circulation disposition (2) is generally provided with ashell part of form coherent with the remanding shell of the dischargebox (1) and with a volume that is smaller than half the volume of saiddischarge box (1) and that can be fitted on a side region of saidattached part of beverage box (1).
 3. The beverage disposition accordingto claim 1, characterized in that said milk circulation disposition (2)is adapted so that can be attached in removable manner to a lateralportion of said attached part of discharge casing (1), by means ofdisplacement in transversal manner relative thereto, preferentially byguiding means (8) provided in opposite regions, and developing along atleast part of the extension of said opposite regions of said milkcirculation disposition (2), thereby providing establishing and removalof flow connection of said vapour entry connection (7) with said vapourexit nozzle (13) provided on said attached part of discharge casing (1).4. The beverage disposition according to claim 1, characterized in thatsaid milk circulation disposition (2) presents a first part (9 a)adapted so as to provide support to said milk flux selection means (3)and to said milk entry connection (4), and preferentially configured soas to provide an exterior surface that develops in coherent manner inrelation to the remanding exterior surface of said discharge casing (1)when said milk circulation disposition (2) is placed in said dischargecasing (1), and further presents a second part (9 b) adapted so as toprovide support to said vapour entry connection (7), whereby said firstand second structural parts (9 a, 9 b) are configured as elements thatcan be manually pressure-fitted with each other.
 5. The beveragedisposition according to claim 4, characterized in that said first andsecond structural parts (9 a, 9 b) are adapted so that support an airvalve disposition (10), a flow distribution disposition (11) and a milkdischarge (12), along a general upstream to downstream direction.
 6. Thebeverage disposition according to claim 1, characterized in that saidmilk circulation disposition (2) comprises a flow distributiondisposition (11) adapted so that presents said milk entry connection (4)and said vapour entry connection (7), and that provides flow connection,preferentially by means of pressure fitting, with said air valvedisposition (10), and with said second beverage discharge (12), wherebysaid flow distribution disposition (11) is preferentially retained inexterior walls of said first and second structural parts (9 a, 9 b). 7.The beverage disposition according to claim 1, characterized in thatsaid milk flux selection means (3) and said beverage type selectionmeans (5) are provided in different regions and planes of said dischargecasing (1), whereby said milk flux selection means (3) arepreferentially provided in a side region of said discharge casing (1),and said selection means (5) of beverage type are provided on a topfront region of said discharge casing (1), whereby said selection means(3) of milk flux are preferentially disposed on a region of said milkcirculation disposition (2) next to and above of flow connection means,for example in the form of a pipe, of said milk circulation disposition(2) to said milk supply recipient (6).
 8. The beverage dispositionaccording to claim 1, characterized in that said milk flux selectionmeans (3) are provided so that can be manually actuated betweensuccessive positions along an actuation plane that is at leastapproximately orthogonal relative to the front plane of said dischargecasing (1), thereby providing a regulation of air flow, in particular bymeans of said air valve disposition (10), in the interior of said milkcirculation disposition (2) and therewith of the type of milk flowdischarged downstream, and in that said selection means (3) of milk fluxare provided so that can be moved along a previously defined path,preferentially around a respective rotation axis, between a plurality ofat least two and up to five, preferentially up to three previouslydefined positions, thereby providing a corresponding variation of thetype of discharge flow of said liquid food product to be frothed,whereby at least one position corresponds to a substantially continuousmilk flow type and a second position corresponds to a substantiallyfrothed milk flow type.
 9. The beverage disposition according to claim1, characterized in that said discharge casing (1) comprises: a firstfluid discharge line adapted for discharge of a first type of beverageand provided in flow connection with an upstream pressurized flowsource, such as for example a pressure pump, and with a downstream firstbeverage discharge (15); a second fluid discharge line for discharge ofmilk and that comprises: a first fluid supply adapted for supplyingvapour and provided in flow connection upstream with said pressurizedfluid source and downstream with a vapour exit nozzle (13), a secondfluid supply adapted for supplying air and that provides flow connectionupstream with an air admission (14) associated with selection means (3)of milk flux that provide regulation of the air flow through an airvalve disposition (10), and downstream with a flow distributiondisposition (11), a third fluid supply adapted for supplying milk andthat provides flow connection upstream with a milk supply recipient (6)provided outside of said beverage preparation machine, and downstreamwith said flow distribution disposition (11), whereby said first, secondand third fluid supplies, are provided in flow connection downstream, bymeans of said flow distribution disposition (11), with a second beveragedischarge (12), and whereby said second and third fluid supplies andrespective second fluid discharge (12) are provided so that can be flowconnected by means of removable pressure-fitting connection of said flowdistribution disposition (11) with said vapour entry connection (7), sothat said second and third fluid supplies, flow distribution disposition(11) and second beverage discharge (12) can be jointly removed fromconnection with said first fluid supply.
 10. The beverage dispositionaccording to claim 9, characterized in that said vapour exit nozzle (13)is adapted for pressure-fitting with a vapour entry connection (7)associated with said flow distribution disposition (11), and in thatsaid connection to the milk supply recipient (6) includes the milk entryconnection (4) adapted for pressure-fitting between a connection part ofmilk supply recipient (6) and a connection part of said discharge casing(1).
 11. The beverage disposition according to claim 1, characterized inthat said air valve disposition (10) comprises a regulation disc (17) ofair flux, provided in a metal, preferentially in a food grade metallicleague.
 12. The beverage disposition according to claim 1, characterizedin that said milk entry connection (4) is provided in flow connectionwith said milk supply recipient (6) by means of a connection thatincludes at least one location with possibility of rotation aroundseveral planes, preferentially including a point of type sphericalkneecap, preferentially including a flexible tube (16) provided forsucking milk from said milk supply recipient (6).
 13. A machine forpreparing beverages, such as for example aromatic beverages, from anedible substance, characterized in that includes a beverage dischargedisposition according to claim
 1. 14. A process for preparing a beverageincluding the steps: providing a beverage preparation machine (20), orsimilar apparatus, presenting a flow pressurization device, such as forexample a pump, at least one brewing device adapted so that can collecta single portion of edible substance inside thereof and at least onebeverage discharge disposition, in particular a beverage dischargedisposition according to claim 1, manual removal of a milk circulationdisposition (2) from the attached part of said discharge casing (1) bymeans of outwards sideways displacement from a correspondingpressure-fitted position of said milk circulation disposition (2) onsaid attached part of discharge casing (1); cleaning of the milkcirculation disposition (2); manual placement of said milk circulationdisposition (2) by means of inwards sideways displacement into acorresponding pressure-fitted position in said discharge casing (1),including pressurized-fitting of the vapour exit nozzle (13) in theattached part of said discharge casing (1) and vapour entry connection(7) on said milk circulation disposition (2).
 15. The process accordingto claims 14, characterized in that further includes the followingsteps: providing a flow connection of said milk circulation disposition(2) with a milk supply recipient (6), preferentially by means of a milkentry connection (4), preferentially by means of a flexible tube;selecting the option of beverage with milk from the at least three andat most five options provided by beverage type selecting means (5);manually selecting an option, from at least three and at most fiveoptions, of operation of said milk flux selection means (3), by means ofmoving said milk flux selection means (3) between a first position and asecond position corresponding to the desired option; actuating the startof beverage discharge operation cycle.